Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-06-07
SLyJD.
A system of Teaching that Has Proved
successful In sweden.

| up they mus" Dc ituSho NJ" W ~
: useful while they are young. How this
: is done in Sweden may be learned from
} an interesting account of slojd teach
ing published in an appendix to the
+ technical instruction commissioners
J second report.
! Slojd, or handwork, is the art oil
using ordinary mplements-such as a
knife, saw, hammer, or paint
brush. Mr.. Squecrs seems to have had
some shadowy notion of this system.
..C.l-e-a-n clean, w-.-n-de-r window;
now 60 and clean it," said that prac-
lical person. Slojd teaching is to tech
meal instruction what liberal edu-
cation is to professional training. 1t
is valued. not only as the first step
toward learning trade, but also as 4
train ng for the faculties. Apprecia-
ton of form, proper value of time
and method. ncatnest Of manipulation,
and habits OF industry and self-relance
are some of the blessings with which
it is credited. Enthusiasts, moreover.
hope that by including manual work
amongtordinary school subjects bodily
| labor may in time be raised from the
low esteem where it too often lies
Slojd was invented by one Uno
Cygnmus, FINN, who, after qualifying
in several hand crafts, became school
master, and was commissioned to draw
up a report, on which the Finnish
system of government schools is based.
In Sweden his system was copied some
fifteen years ago. and it has there
spread so rapidly that in many of the
sommon schools slojd forms part of the
| regular course. Those who view
/ ''handwork" merely rs a training for
The faculties contine their teaching to
simple work in wood. But those who
value il also as subsidiary to technical
Instruction teach slojd in many branch
IS, and carry it hey ond the use of the
simplest tools. Bookb,ndng. tinker
ng, smiths work, painting, basket
max ne. shoemaking, and tailoring
are among their subjects; and they
| spare no effort to make the system at
tractiye to pupils and parents At
some schools pupils are allowed to
Keep what they have made. or to buy
I cheaply; or. to secure continuous at
tendance, they are credited with de-
lcrred pay, which they forfeit by leav-
| ng before stipulated course has been
completed. On completion of the
course the pupil is presented with II
oank-book representing his accumulat.
ID earnings, and receives a parting
| counsel to increase them.
The parents sympathy is also angled
Tor. AT school in laboring district
I is rule that pupils shall be taught
o make and use such common imple-
nents as are most serviceable to work
ng people-rakes, spades. ax-handlcs.
and the like. Assiduous young thinkers,
| .ailors, and shocmakers are allowed
the use of school implements to make
che family repairs. and thus exists in
Sweden the phenomenon of Il self-re-
pairing boy, who mends his own raim-
snt and cobbles his own shoes.
As TO the best recipe for making
,lojd teacher experts differ. Some take
III artisan aud teach him pedagogy:
others prefer to give sehoomaster a
short training rs an artisan. Both par
lies agree that the instru elton must be
given nationally, and not by rulo of
thumb; and on this principle series of
models have been prepared and courses
Of method cal Instructors are pre-
,cribed. Joiners. for instance. pro-
gress gradually from tlower-pot stick
20 table or wardrobe: whit tiers from
"sansage-pegs' to jumping jacks" and
sarious animals, and the other crafts
men in like manner.
In Sweden, in NORWAY, and in Fin
land the system has proved most sue =
.essful. There seems no reason W hv
u should not DO introduced and become
qually successful here. The taste
among non-laboring classes for using
Implements is universal. Too often,
however, the hands that guide the i'm
plements are rather jealous than skill
tul But if schools taught sloid these
hf'ii"al su1t cummings WOuku Dc RENEE
died The tool-chest. now a Pando-
ra's box of evil. bringing terror to pa
rental DO and imprecations on the
donor. would become blessing. In
stead of amputating chair-legs or stud
ding the furniture with tin tacks. it's
skilled possessor would do the family's
odd jobs. The peuknife found in the
pocket OF every sehoolboy but Macau-
ly's would white and carve under
due supervision, to tho advantage of
the school fittings and its owners fin
gers Adults would cease TO slice the T.
faces in vain attempts to shave them
selves and to the adept in slcjd the
opening OF II meat-tiu or sardne box
would not mean lock jaw. If to the
use OF ordinary tools some craft like
bookbindng were added. brainworkers
would grow IN with recreative hobby
ready made. Even a course of darning
and button-sewing might not come
amiss 10 youths intended for PROBES
sions where. accordin 9 to the registrar
generals returns. they will be con.
flap,naA 70